Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar instructed all unit commanders in the National Capital Region (NCR) to prioritize their anti-criminality measures after the national government deescalated the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) status in the region to Alert Level 2 starting Friday, Nov. 5.
With the easing of restrictions, more people are allowed to go out on the streets so the PNP leadership expects that this will be taken advantage of by the criminals to return to their old ways of victimizing the public.
“Ngayong lalo pang niluwagan ang patakaran dahil sa patuloy na pagbaba ng COVID cases sa bansa, inatasan ko na ang lahat ng aming unit commanders na lalo pang paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad dahil tiyak ko na isa sa mga nabuhayan ng loob ay ang mga kriminal na gustong bumalik sa dating gawi ng kanilang mga iligal na gawain (Now that the restrictions are even eased up due to the continuous decrease of COVID-19 cases in the country, I tasked all our unit commanders to intensify their campaign against criminality because I am sure that among those who were given new hope are the criminals who want to go back to their illegal activities),” Eleazar said.
President Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to place NCR under Alert Level 2 from November 5 to 21.
Even the standard and unified curfew hours in NCR were lifted by the mayors so that commercial establishments can operate at any time and the economy can bounce back in the final quarter of the year.
The decision drew mixed reaction from the public as some individuals welcomed the more relaxed health and security measures while others suggested that the restrictions must remain tight to prevent a possible rise in the number of cases and crimes.
The focus on anti-crime measures, according to Eleazar, will be crucial especially since more people are expected to go out on the days leading to the Christmas season.
“Mahirap pa rin ang buhay ngayon dahil sa epekto ng pandemya kaya mananatiling kabahagi ang inyong PNP sa pagprotekta sa mga pinaghirapang pera ng ating mga kababayan (The life is still difficult due to the effects of the pandemic that’s why your PNP will remain as your partner in protecting the hard-earned money of our countrymen),” he added.
Aside from the easing of protocols, the IATF also approved the recommendation of the Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics to base the alert level assignments on data nearest to the enforcement date.
Starting December 1, alert level assignments shall be determined at every 15th and 30th days of the month.
“I am also expecting all our unit commanders especially in Metro Manila to adopt the best practices that were implemented at the height of the pandemic restrictions in order to restrict the movement of criminal elements, especially the motorcycle-riding criminals, in urban areas,” Eleazar said.
The PNP Chief also instructed the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) leadership to ensure that all personnel are well-informed of the guidelines set under the Alert Level 2 to avoid any confusion in the enforcement of rules.
Finally, he called on the public to continue adhering to the minimum public health standards such as wearing face mask and shield, and observing social distancing.